Rare footage shows a brown bear charging to attack a cow moose, while a wolf takes the opportunity to chase after the calf.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game shared this rare video captured by a camera trap in Glacier Bay National Park, which preserves over 12,100 km2 of forests, mountains, and coastline in Southeast Alaska, USA, Live Science reported on September 9.
A mother moose and her calf encounter a brown bear and a gray wolf in the wilds of Alaska. (Video: Alaska Department of Fish and Game)
At the beginning of the footage, a Eurasian female moose and her calf are strolling leisurely at night. However, the next day, two creatures with bright eyes charge towards the tall grass nearby. In slow motion, it’s clear that one pair of those eyes belongs to a brown bear (Ursus arctos), which leaps and attacks the mother moose. During this struggle, the “owner” of the second pair of eyes—a gray wolf (Canis lupus)—chases after the calf, running off-screen.
In the wild, brown bears and gray wolves sometimes pursue moose calves in an attempt to feast on them. In this case, the two predators are likely not coordinating but are aware of each other’s presence, according to Rick Steiner, a conservationist and environmental consultant who has worked in Alaska for decades.
Steiner noted that the gray wolf might have been tracking the brown bear, and there may have been other wolves nearby that were out of frame. As the mother moose fought back against the brown bear, the wolf took advantage of the moment when the calf was unprotected and charged in to attack.
Bear charges to attack the moose.
The footage ends after a few seconds, and it is unclear which animal emerged victorious. However, Steiner believes that an adult moose—potentially standing about 1.8 meters tall and possessing powerful kicks—would have the upper hand against the brown bear, especially if the bear appears to be immature.
After the encounter, the mother moose may run after her calf and fend off one or more wolves. She could also regain the advantage in this confrontation. “An adult moose is a formidable opponent for any animal,” Steiner stated.
Both brown bears and gray wolves once had a vast range across North America, Europe, and Asia, but today, they primarily reside in more northern and isolated areas. In other regions, they have been hunted to the brink of extinction.
“This footage reminds us that the Alaskan wilderness is a magnificent place with many interactions among wildlife. These lands are national treasures that need to be protected, nurtured, and preserved for their wildness,” Steiner concluded.
